Why are there evaporation ponds at the Dead Sea?

The Dead Sea in Israel is an intriguing place. At about 1,400 feet below sea level, its shores are one of the lowest places on Earth. The water has so much salt in it that anyone who goes swimming in it, simply floats to the top. And the sand from the area is jam-packed with restorative and nutrient-rich mud.

It's also home to something called evaporation ponds, which you can see in the photos here. These artificial, shallow ponds are used to extract salt from the water. The salt, in turn, can then be harvested for manufacturing purposes, human and animal nutrition, water conditioning, and road de-icing.

In addition to the ones at the Dead Sea, tourists can spot them in places like France, Mexico and in the U.S. (near San Francisco).

Tourists walking next to evaporation ponds in the southern part of the Dead Sea in Israel. (Photo: Menahem Kahana
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AFP/Getty Images)